Hamel Hits Historic Mark at Penn State Open

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA - Needing only three wins to become the fifth wrestler in program history to reach 100 career wins, senior Jimmy Hamel wasted no time Sunday at the Penn State Open, winning his first three matches to hit the century mark. Kevin Smith's second-place finish in a deep tournament was another one of the many highlights for the Bulls at the all-day tournament, hosted by the Nittany Lions.

Hamel's first win came against King College's Brandon Tressler, 6-0.  In the second round, the Natick, MA native beat out Brad Nielson of Maryland 8-3 before taking down The Citadel's Josh Tuck 10-4 to reach 100 wins, a mark no Buffalo wrestler has achieved since Mark Budd in 2007.

Smith had a terrific outing as well, starting the day with four straight wins before falling in the championship match at 133 pounds. The Mexico, NY native took down wrestlers from Navy, Bloomsburg, Maryland and North Carolina en route to his runner-up finish.

A handful of other Buffalo wrestlers also placed in a tournament that was chock full of top-25 teams and talented wrestler from all over the country. Mark Lewandowski placed seventh at 157 to continue his terrific sophomore campaign. Fellow sophomore Brett Correll also placed, finishing eighth in the heavyweight bracket.

Sophomore Josh Peters continues to build momentum this season with his second-straight tournament placing, a fifth-place finish after taking third at the Body Bar Invite. Peters took down Justin Ortega of Penn State in the fifth-place match, 3-2, and looks to be finding his rhythm on the mat.

John-Martin Cannon claimed the team's second-highest placing of the day, taking fourth at 165 pounds. The Brockport, NY junior won four straight before losing to eventual champion Josh Asper of Maryland.

It was a busy weekend for the entire Buffalo wrestling team, as 10 members also went to wrestle at the Niagara County Community College Open Saturday. Two freshman earned their first career tournament championships as Wally Maziarz (149 pounds) and Zach Ward (174) each were crowned individual champs. The Soria twins were standouts in the 125 pound bracket, with Mike placing second and Max finishing fourth.

At 157 pounds, Matt Dehney placed third after going 4-1 for the tournament. Justin Farmer was injured after cruising through his first two wins and was forced to take a medical forfeit despite dominating his first two matches. Ricky Bronson was a fifth-place finisher at 149 pounds and heavyweight Mitzunobu Aiono finished fourth to round out a terrific effort for the younger members of the team.

After a string of tournaments the team will get a shot to improve on its 1-1 dual meet record as it will take on Drexel, Bloomsburg and East Stroudsburg in an all-day dual meet round robin hosted by Bloomsburg. The quad-meet will kick off next Sunday at 11:00 AM.

Here is the link to this article on the UB Website:  http://buffalobulls.com/sports/wrest/2010-11/releases/2010120562hpw6.

One For the Record Books!

Jimmy Hamel, 184 lbs.

CONGRATULATIONS JIMMY!!

The University at Buffalo Wrestling family congratulates Jimmy Hamel, who recorded his 100th win today in the third round of the Nittany Lion Open at PSU. Hamel's first win of the day came over Brandon Tressler of King College with a score of 6-0.  In the second round, Hamel defeated Brad Nielson of Maryland with an 8-3 victory.  In his third round match and 100th career victory, Hamel posted a 10-4 victory over The Citadel's Josh Tuck.  

Coach Beasley will do a complete recap of the Nittany Lion Open early this week.    

Redshirt Wrestlers' Results from NCCC Open

December 4, 2010 NCCC Results:

Zach Ward, 174 lbs.

Wally Maziarz, 149 lbs.

125 pounds - Mike and Max Soria both had solid showings today.  Mike finished as the Runner-Up and Max took 4th place.  Mike won with a fall in 4:18, a 15-1 major decision, and 8-6 decision to make the finals.  Mike lost a tough finals match by score of 4-7 decision.  Max won by scores of 12-5, and 8-7 decision to make the semifinals.  In the semifinals, he lost a last second take down to drop the match 5-2.  Then he won in the consolation semifinals by an 8-1 score.  In the 3rd place match he dropped a tight 5-7 decision.

133 pounds - Justin Farmer dominated his first two matches to put him in the semifinals.  In the closing seconds of his quarterfinal victory, he mat-returned his opponent and split his own chip open.  It was a deep cut and he had to default out of the tournament to get stitches so he would be ready to compete at the Penn State Open tomorrow.  He won his two matches by fall in 4:36 and 9-4 decision.

149 pounds - Wally Maziarz won his first collegiate tournament today.  Wally won by fall in 2:15, 6-2 decision, and 2-1 to advance to his first collegiate tournament championship.  In the finals, he won an exciting 10-8 match.  Rickey Bronson won by 8-3 decision in the quarterfinals to advance to semifinals where he lost by the score of 3-7.  Then, Rickey was pinned in the consolation semifinals in a match that he was winning at the time to drop into the 5th place match.  He received a default and finished 5th.

157 pounds - Matt Dehney wrestled well and finished 4-1 to finish 3rd. He won a 4-2 decision in the first round, won a 3-2 decision in the quarterfinals, lost 4-7 in the semifinals, won 3-2 in the consolation semifinals, and won a 6-2 to finish 3rd.  Kris Duge competed hard but dropped a 6-16 major decision and a 7-8 heart breaker.

184 pounds - Zach Ward won his first collegiate tournament and I would say had the best performance of the day.  He had a bye to the semifinals.  His semifinal match was, in my opinion, the match of the day.  Zach wrestled so hard that he broke his opponent and his opponent literally quit the match and walked off the mat in frustration at the end of the second period.  In the finals, he won 9-6.

285 pounds - Mibo Aiono placed 4th.  He won his first match by a score of 3-2.  Then he dropped his semifinal match 4-9. In the consolation semifinals, Mibo picked up a 4-1 decision.  In his 3rd/4th place match, he lost 3-4 to finish 3rd.

Next Up... Penn State Open tomorrow

Hamel is Making History

Jimmy Hamel should break the 100 win mark on Sunday at the Penn State Open.  He currently sits at 97 and is three away from 100.  This would put Jimmy in very elite company in the UB Wrestling Record Book.  He should become the 5th wrestler at UB to break a 100 career wins.  This is a great milestone for Jimmy in his storied career.  He surpassed '98 UB Alumni John Stutzman at the Body Bar for 5th place all time in wins at UB.  Jimmy is on track to climb very high on the career wins list.  Note:  Career wins do not count wins during a redshirt year.  Here is a look at the top 15 in all time wins...


1. Kyle Cerminara (‘01-06)........137
2. Gary Cooper (‘98-03)............113
3. Mark Budd (‘02-07)...............104
4. Josh States (‘97-01)................102
5. Jimmy Hamel (‘06-Pres).........97
6. John Stutzman (‘95-98)..............95
7. Bill Stanbro (‘87-91)..................91
8. Ryan Bentley (‘99-03)................90
9. Mickey Moran (‘04-09).............88
10. Jake Partlow (‘97-00)..............85
10. Andy Komarek (‘81-85)..........85
12. John Eschenfelder (‘96-01).......83
13. Scott Slade (‘78-82).................81
13. Harold Sherrell (‘01-06)............81
15. Tom Jobin (‘81-85)...................79
15. Desi Green (2008-Pres.)............79

Jimmy has also wrestled his way to #3 in career dual meet wins with 41.  In the first dual of the season, he moved into sole possession of #3 after being tied for fourth with '01 Alumni Josh States.  Here is a look at the top 15 in all time dual meet wins...


1. Kyle Cerminara (‘01-’06).........51
2. Bruce Hadsell (‘73-78).............50
3. Jimmy Hamel (‘06-Pres)........41
4. Josh States (‘97-01).................40
5. Mark Budd (‘02-07)................39
5. Gary Cooper (‘99-’03).............39
7. John Eschenfelder (‘96-01).......38
7. John Stutzman (‘95-98).............38
7. Jim Young (‘73-75)...................38
10. Mickey Moran (‘04-09)..........37
10. Tom Jobin (‘81-85).................37
10. Scott Slade (‘78-82)................37
10. Kirk Anderson (‘74-78)...........37
10. Ron Brandt (‘70-72)................37
15. Ryan Bentley (‘99-03).............36

Penn State Open Preview

Here is a quick look at the top wrestlers that were preregistered for the tournament at Penn State on Sunday.

125 pounds – 64 wrestlers in the field currently

UB Entries – Walton, Soria, and Soria

Other Top Contenders – Biscaha (Cornell), Franco (Hofstra), Langel/Fusco (Maryland), Striziki/Monzey/Gentry (Maryland), Morgan/Martellotti (Penn St.), Mines (Edinboro), Mitchell/Mitch (Virginia Tech), Rappo (Pennsylvania), Rhone (Lock Haven), Robinson (Old Dominion), Suitor/Dowd (Boston), Weinell (Gannon), Zanetta (Pitt), Cullinan/Roth (CMU), Byers (EMU), and Mitcheff (Kent)

133 pounds – 64 wrestlers in the field currently

UB Entry – Smith and Farmer

Other Top Contenders – Mack/Galloway (Pitt), Livorio (UNC), McCaffrey (Navy), Meinsen (Binghamton), Boone/Goodwin/Goretsas/Ruland (Maryland), Volrath/Sherlock/Pearsall (PSU), Schopp/Port (Edinboro), Santaite (Boston), Sim (Citadel), Spjut (Virginia Tech), Keselring (CMU), and Hammer (Ohio)

141 pounds – 71 wrestlers in the field currently

UB Entries – Schutt and Conti

Other Top Contenders – Alton/Lynch (PSU), Bedelyon (Clarion), Melde/Beverly (Rutgers), Goeres (Binghamton), Hartenstine (Maryland), Kemmerer (Pennsylvania), Lopes (UNC), Neibert/Murry (Virginia Tech), Nauman (Pitt – Returning All-American), Woody (Lehigh), Batthiesen (CMU), Schaner (EMU), and Collins (Kent)

149 pounds – 89 wrestlers in the field currently

UB Entries – Loomis, Maziarz, Bronson, and Micek

Other Top Contenders – Alton/English (PSU), Molinaro (PSU – returning All-American), Mason/Ashnault (Rutgers), Burns (UNC), Dorsay (Maryland), Fenningham (Drexel), Fry (Lock Haven), Habat (Edinboro), Lenzi (Pennsylvania), Gordon (Virginia), Metzler (Old Dominion), Pascazi (Pitt), Rodgers (Rider), Ruggirello (Hofstra), Salupo (Lehigh), Smith (Bloomsburg), Taffur (Boston), Vinson (Binghamton), Weber (Michigan), Cooley/Cubberly (CMU), and France/Johnson (EMU)

157 pounds – 66 wrestlers in the field currently

UB Entries – Lewandowski and Dehney

Other Top Contenders – Busler (Bloomsburg), Chelednik (Army), Terdick/Clemente (Hofstra), Knapp/Hightower/Dong (Virginia Tech), John (Maryland), Lister (Binghamton – Returning All-American), Mock (UNC), Salazar (Michigan), Tanen (Lehigh), Tasser (Pitt), Taylor (PSU), Tourville (Boston), Visicaro (Rutgers), Vollrath (PSU), Zeerip (Michigan), Cline/Cubberly (CMU),and Shuster (Kent)

165 pounds – 53 wrestlers in the field currently

UB Entries – Cannon and Majerus

Other Top Contenders – Sheptock/Asper (Maryland), Schalles/Bailey (Navy), Tasser/Counterman (Pitt), Kemerer/Fisher/Cowburn (PSU), Czarnecki (Boston), Kaylor (Binghamton), Nash/Lamson (Michigan State), Luvsandorj (Citadel),Scotton (UNC), Sulzer (Virginia), Joseph/Ortman/Rice/Risch (EMU), and Dilley (Ohio)

174 pounds – 63 wrestlers in the field currently

UB Entry – Sheehan

Other Top Contenders –Caruso/Ard/Zannetti (Rutgers), McGarity/Beckwith (Binghamton), Bethea (Pennsylvania), Doty/Coggins (Virginia), Cunningham (Cornell), Headlee/Deciantis (Pitt), Ferguson (UNC), Jones/Kacznowski/Ford (Michigan St.),  Griffin (Pennsylvania), Huntley (Navy), Letts (Maryland), Malvestuto (Virginia Tech), McPeek (Bucknell), Meys (Boston), Milano/Darch (Clarion), Oddo (Citadel), Pagnotta (Maryland), Petroski (UNC), Ruth (PSU), Terry (Gannon), Warner (Old Dominion), Quinn/Schuck (CMU), Curby (EMU), and Duckworth (Ohio)

184 pounds – 44 wrestlers in the field currently

UB Entries – Hamel and Smith

Other Top Contenders –  Samuels/Bailey (Lehigh), Wright (PSU – returning All-American), Boyden (Rutgers), Budi (Old Dominion), Mantella/Crudden (Boston), Dickson (Virginia Tech), Garcia (Lock Haven), George (Cornell), Morrison (Rider), Peltier (Maryland), Rizgallah (Michigan St.), Ronan (Bloomsburg), Schiedel (Binghamton), Tenpenny (UNC), Waltko (Bucknell), and Witt (Kent)

197 pounds – 35 wrestlers in the field currently

UB Entries – Peters and Peter

Other Top Contenders – Bennett (Cornell), Bennett (UNC), Boley/Brown (Maryland), Gaffney (Edinboro), Lavelle (Virginia Tech), Najjar (Boston), Ruggear/Ortega (PSU), Seidenburg (Rutgers), Wessel (Lehigh), Stanback (EMU), and Wenger (Ohio)

285 pounds – 41 wrestlers in the field currently

UB Entries – Correll, Donner, and Aiono

Other Top Contenders – Cowan (Pennsylvania), Delaney (Citadel), Innis (Boston), McGrew (Hofstra), McNeil (UNCG), Moore (Binghamton), Myers (Maryland), Rizgallah (Michigan St.),  Tomei (Pitt), Tourdot (Old Dominion), Tymosuzuk (Kent), Wade (PSU), Wade (EMU), and Murray (CMU)

Also note that the following wrestlers will be competing at the Niagara Community College Open on Saturday... 125 - Soria and Soria, 133 - Farmer, 149 - Bronson, Maziarz, and Micek, 157 - Dehney and Duge, 184 - Ward, and HWT - Aiono